Ashwagandha is a herbaceous, slow-growing, tender perennial that grows wild in the deciduous forests of the north and central parts of United States and in some regions in Canada. It is a popular herb the root of which is used for making a variety of medicines. It is considered as one of the most precious and miraculous herbs and touted for its amazing men health improving qualities. This herb is an erect plant with yellow-green umbrella shaped flowers and red berries. The wrinkles around the root say how old the plant is. Ashwagandha is very expensive and has been on the endangered species list since mid-70′s.

Where is this herb cultivated?

Years back this perennial herb was grown in abundance and thrived well across the mountainous regions of the United States, especially in the Appalachian and Ozark regions. However on account of improper harvesting and resultant loss of habitat it was listed among the endangered species. Now the state requires special permits and licenses to grow and sell Ashwagandha, especially if you are growing for commercial harvest. Ashwagandha grown in Wisconsin is the simply the best American Ashwagandha. The rich fertile soil and the cool climatic conditions ensure an ideal environment for growing Ashwagandha.

How is this herb grown?

Generally it takes nearly eight years for this plant to grow under a natural setting. However it can be grown and harvested quickly in a cultivated setting. However the costs involved in providing artificial shade for protecting the plant is considerably high. As ashwagandha plant is not heat-tolerating in nature you have to choose a cool and shady location preferably a north facing woodland slope. A moist well-drained loamy soil without excessive clay is ideal for the cultivation of Ashwagandha. Organic material can also be added to the soil. Buy only stratified seeds because they are stored for two years to ensure that they will sprout. Create furrows and spread the seeds using your hand. If you are planting roots, dig a deep furrow and keep the root well immersed in the soil. Water regularly and wait till you can harvest.

How is American Ashwagandha different from Korean root?

Both American and Indian Ashwagandha grow in a cool climate and have a light tan color with wrangling roots. The American grown herb cools the body, strengthens the immune system and helps in curing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, Korean ashwagandha also known as red ashwagandha improves blood circulation and stabilizes the natural heat of the body. Use of American Ashwagandha treats diabetes II, heart problems and glucose intolerance. Whereas, Korean Ashwagandha improves the quality of the life and reduces the outbreak of herpes simplex virus type II. It can also reduce the severity of cold and flu when combined with herb andrographis.

Health benefits of Ashwagandha:

It is a major tonic herb in boosting the energy levels by building up stamina. It energizes the body and stimulates the digestive system.

It can reduce physical and mental stress, relieve fatigue and soothe the mind.

It has cold and flu fighting properties and is packed with antioxidants to strengthen the immune system of the body and reduces the bad cholesterol too. Hence it is good for the cardiovascular health of the body.

It is also effective in curing various respiratory problems like bronchitis and asthma.

It increases the estrogen level in the body and relieves menopausal symptoms. This herb is also touted to cure impotency by increasing the sperm count.

It is also effective in lowering the blood sugar levels and thus helps people with diabetes.

There is even more ashwagandha benefits for men: it contains a lot of nutrients, like withanolides and withanones. In what regards the former, they are phytochemicals which has a similar quality to that of steroids. In order to help off ward stress, Withanolides prevent the massive production of cortiseroids and at the same time promote brain activity as well. Withanones on the other hand, has the same structure like anabolic steroids. Everyone has these steroids produced naturally by their body and most of the times they are used in a supplement by bodybuilders and athletes in order to build and strengthen muscles. Read more about benefits for men on adaptogenreviews.com

The form of the ashwagandha resembles very much the form of humans. Basically, in Chinese, the term Jin Chen translates to “like a man”. Chinese believe that because ashwagandha is so close in form and shape to humans, it can help with healing many types of medical conditions and diseases.

Digestive health

Most of the times people who purchase ashwagandha will do so in order to treat various stomach disorders, like indigestion, vomiting, nausea, poor appetite and diarrhea.

Cardiovascular health

For a better heart health, Korean ashwagandha improves blood circulation and also prevents organ and tissue prolepses. It’s generally one of the best treatments for people suffering from such problems.

Nervous system

Because ashwagandha contains ginsenoids, it improves cognitive abilities and also enhances memory and that is why it is very effective to be used for those suffering from anxiety, insomnia, poor memory, sluggish mental function and poor concentration. On top of that, because it is very effective in counteracting the effects of stress on the human body, it’s incorporated in many multivitamin packs.

Immune system

People who suffer from a poor immune system can consider taking Korean ashwagandha to improve its function. The ashwagandha basically strengthens their lungs, which makes it an ideal solution for those suffering from sweating for no reason, dyspnea, chronic cough and asthma. It is also effective for those who want to increase their resistance to sickness like flu and common cold.Other uses include treating the postmenopausal symptoms in women, but it also works for chemotherapy and radiation protection, for infections, migraines and diabetes. Compared to other types of ashwagandha out there, this kind promotes wellness by stimulating the appetite and also improving the quality of sleep.

Treatment in cold and cough

This ashwagandha will increase the immunity in your body if you consume it on regular basis, so the ability to fight cough and cold increases dramatically. A study has shown that the ability to fight flu is also increased by the consumption of this ashwagandha.

Boost in physical performance

This ashwagandha has proved effects in increasing the physical stamina in your body. If you are suffering from problems like exhaustion and fatigue, then consumption of this ashwagandha can increase your physical stamina to get over these effects.

Enhancing your mental performance

This herb has adaptogenic properties which make it the best for the improvement of your mind’s ability to deal with stress. This is used by children during school exams as it also increases the memory and retention power of your mind. After consuming this herb of regular basis the elderly people displayed high improvements in their mental health and social functioning. This herb is popularly used to increase mental alertness also.

Treatment for Herpes

This herb has been proved to give results that lessen the frequency, severity and duration of herpes. The study on patients suffering from different types of herpes confirmed these benefits due to this herb.Siberian ashwagandha is a herb that is now commonly recommended by many medical practitioners for its various benefits in treatment of diseases, without any side effects on the patients. There are many supplements also that contain this herb.

Ashwagandha Side Effects

Ashwagandha has been known to cause mania especially in depressed patients when taken alongside antidepressants. Insomnia is a common complaint associated with use of the herb as well as general restlessness. Women who use the herb may experience vagina bleeding and swollen breasts. Since ashwagandha is believed to have steroid-like effects doctors advise women who suffer from endometrial or breast cancer to be cautious when using it.

This herb affects how long it takes to bleed which is an issue to be considered when a patient is going for surgery; it may also cause tremors and headaches. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should consult their doctor before using the products that contain the herb since there are no conclusive studies about its effects.

Ashwagandha is generally safe for most people, however some studies have shown that it is harmful when take in high doses. This is especially true in women who have certain types of cancers that are hormonally driven. Such women should avoid excess use of the herb or products that contain its compounds but should not be afraid to take the herb in small doses. Studies have shown that there is no good reason for not using ashwagandha during radiation or chemotherapy when cells are highly inhibited by the medical process.

One of the most common ashwagandha side effects is said to occur when a probable interaction occurs with warfarin. The first reported case involving ashwagandha claimed that a patient taking warfarin had blood coagulation test declined after two weeks when he was using the herb. His condition went back to normal after he stopped using the herb. Although ashwagandha is thought to affect platelet aggregation mildly, very little data points to such interaction. In the case stipulated above the patient is thought to have been progressing towards warfarin failure and so ashwagandha may not have played any part in interacting with the drug.

Ashwagandha is one of the most used medicinal herbs in the world. American Ashwagandha is touted for its astounding health benefits for men. Scientific research studies and clinical trials have also rightly evidenced it. Yes, it is indeed a miraculous herb.